One of the most important things to do when you bring a new kitten home is to start litterbox training. Luckily, this process is an easy one thanks to the natural instincts felines have to dig in dirt and cover up their feces and urine.

According to WebMD.com Pets, you should start by purchasing a litterbox that is as large as you can find. Choose a place for the litterbox that is easy for your kitten to get to, preferably away from loud noises, since cats typically like to eliminate quietly and privately.

Place the kitten in the box after it wakes up from a nap, or after a meal or play session, the website recommends. Always praise her when she uses the box, and instead of scolding her when she doesn't use the box, simply lift her into the box and clean up.

At first, it is a good idea to keep some of the cat's urine or feces in the box, since the scent will remind her where to go. However, eventually a clean litterbox will be more enticing to your cat than a dirty one, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.

Of course, accidents are bound to happen at first, but if an older cat that has always used the litterbox suddenly starts eliminating elsewhere around your house, you may want to bring it to a veterinarian. Urinating outside the litterbox can be a sign of a cat illness like bladder stones in cats or kidney failure in cats. Veterinarians can run tests like a urinalysis for cats that can help determine whether the cause is medical or is a sign of cat behavior problems.

BUSINESS HOURS

Emergency

In case of emergency during normal business hours, please call us immediately. If you have an emergency outside of our normal business hours, please contact a local emergency animal hospital.

Specialty Care

As part of the VCA family, we have over 83 specialty hospitals across the US and Canada which provide referral specialty care, so there may be one near you. Enter ZIP to find VCA specialty care hospitals near you.